Tips for a BA holiday with 14 month old
Aug 2, 2019, 1:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 181
Tips for a BA holiday with 14 month old
hi all
we are planning a trip in January (available dates 21 Jan to 1 feb) with our 14 month old. It will be his first long haul so club or higher is mandatory. We have 500k Avios and a 2for1. We were thinking of Tenerife but it’s coming out at £4-5k which I think might be better spent elsewhere. Any good baby ideas welcome.
Thanks
we are planning a trip in January (available dates 21 Jan to 1 feb) with our 14 month old. It will be his first long haul so club or higher is mandatory. We have 500k Avios and a 2for1. We were thinking of Tenerife but it’s coming out at £4-5k which I think might be better spent elsewhere. Any good baby ideas welcome.
Thanks
Aug 2, 2019, 1:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Turkish Miles&SmilesElite;; Freccia Alata Plus; Amex Platinum; SPG Gold; Marriott Gold Elit
Posts: 276
Depends what type of destination you’re looking for. Took our 4 month old to CPT 23.5 years ago. I travelled up the front, the other half was in a bassinet row in Y. Yes, I know. Biz trip and I didn’t have an amazing salary then to splurge on trips. And FT probably wasn’t around to provide all the intel to bag low cost premium travel.
But I did make sure she had Marmite sandwiches by special request (although apparently you’re not supposed to spread it as thickly as jam...) and looked after the sprog from time to time. Anyway, South Africa proved a doddle with an infant.
A 14-month old is probably a mite more troublesome, so it will depend on whether you want to travel or stay put, if you want English-speaking or other languages, and type of food.
But I did make sure she had Marmite sandwiches by special request (although apparently you’re not supposed to spread it as thickly as jam...) and looked after the sprog from time to time. Anyway, South Africa proved a doddle with an infant.
A 14-month old is probably a mite more troublesome, so it will depend on whether you want to travel or stay put, if you want English-speaking or other languages, and type of food.
Last edited by Mapman; Aug 2, 2019 at 1:49 pm
Aug 2, 2019, 3:28 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
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We flew economy domestic many times before my daughter was two, and typically got three seats near the back when checking in.
We used to get early afternoon flights, and without fail she’d sleep for the most part.
She’s four now, and about to go TATL for the first time. In club, so I’m setting her expectations too high at such a young age.
Aug 2, 2019, 3:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Aug 2, 2019, 3:52 pm
#6
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You can always purchase a ticket for a person of any age.
Aug 2, 2019, 3:55 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Jersey
Programs: BAEC gold
Posts: 518
Faced with the same situation a few years ago we went to DXB. It is not somewhere I would want to go again, but with a very small person (our son was 13 months at the time) when we were all exhausted it was perfect. There are often deals in the hotels to be had in January, it is warm (but not too warm) and you can stay in a nice resort with everything easily to hand so everyone can have a bit of a rest / swim in the pool etc. Other little things helped - for example that that there were English shops - we avoided several crises by finding a Boots in a nearby mall. If you fly J then the little one can share a bed with one of you, and the flight and time difference aren’t too hideous.
Aug 2, 2019, 5:10 pm
#8
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Posts: 22,127
hi all
we are planning a trip in January (available dates 21 Jan to 1 feb) with our 14 month old. It will be his first long haul so club or higher is mandatory. We have 500k Avios and a 2for1. We were thinking of Tenerife but it’s coming out at £4-5k which I think might be better spent elsewhere. Any good baby ideas welcome.
Thanks
we are planning a trip in January (available dates 21 Jan to 1 feb) with our 14 month old. It will be his first long haul so club or higher is mandatory. We have 500k Avios and a 2for1. We were thinking of Tenerife but it’s coming out at £4-5k which I think might be better spent elsewhere. Any good baby ideas welcome.
Thanks
Assuming that is the case, you would be better off booking 3 seats in EuroTraveller, so that your child will have his/her own seat, and the available space and seats would essentially be the same.
CE row 1 can can be handy, but with LGW flights (assuming that's what you are looking at) it's not advisable to book the Row 1 A/C with a child either, in case the aircraft changes to one without the bulkhead in front of Row 1 A/C side because they're exit rows, which means you'd be pinged out of your seats and sent elsewhere random, and there is no Row 1 D/F side either on those types, so you also risk being pinged out to a random row. With those risks considered, I'd say just book 3 seats in ET. (Note, LHR CE does not have this Row 1 risk.)
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Aug 2, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Aug 2, 2019, 5:22 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
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Posts: 6,812
If you are thinking of TFS, assuming you are based in Europe, it is not a long haul flight assuming you are somewhere in Europe, so you only get short haul seats (Club Europe only, not Club World or First).
Assuming that is the case, you would be better off booking 3 seats in EuroTraveller, so that your child will have his/her own seat, and the available space and seats would essentially be the same.
CE row 1 can can be handy, but with LGW flights (assuming that's what you are looking at) it's not advisable to book the Row 1 A/C with a child either, in case the aircraft changes to one without the bulkhead in front of Row 1 A/C side because they're exit rows, which means you'd be pinged out of your seats and sent elsewhere random, and there is no Row 1 D/F side either on those types, so you also risk being pinged out to a random row. With those risks considered, I'd say just book 3 seats in ET.
Assuming that is the case, you would be better off booking 3 seats in EuroTraveller, so that your child will have his/her own seat, and the available space and seats would essentially be the same.
CE row 1 can can be handy, but with LGW flights (assuming that's what you are looking at) it's not advisable to book the Row 1 A/C with a child either, in case the aircraft changes to one without the bulkhead in front of Row 1 A/C side because they're exit rows, which means you'd be pinged out of your seats and sent elsewhere random, and there is no Row 1 D/F side either on those types, so you also risk being pinged out to a random row. With those risks considered, I'd say just book 3 seats in ET.
Aug 2, 2019, 11:42 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 181
Thanks all,
baby has actually been to South Africa before, at age minus 40 weeks.
MRU is a good suggestion. I’ll check for nice seats.
we would be very happy to go to Tenerife but it just seems like a lot of money. The flights aren’t that expensive so we would, as suggested, book a full seat for the baby so we can spread out. (Would go EasyJet or Jet2 from the regions).
baby has actually been to South Africa before, at age minus 40 weeks.
MRU is a good suggestion. I’ll check for nice seats.
we would be very happy to go to Tenerife but it just seems like a lot of money. The flights aren’t that expensive so we would, as suggested, book a full seat for the baby so we can spread out. (Would go EasyJet or Jet2 from the regions).
Aug 3, 2019, 1:44 am
#11
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 73
We went to a Barbados when our son was 16 months old. F out and J back! He was perfect both ways on the flights. Only went F because of reward availability and in fact would strongly recommend the 2 middle seats in J for couple + little one.
Would also strongly recommend Barbados for little ones. Hire a car and easy 45 minute drive to superb west coast area. We’ve hired the same villa for 3 years running 5 minutes walk from public beach access. Going again next year on 241 booked at 1am exactly UK time whilst we were in Barbados this year!
Plenty to do out there if you have a hire car for little ones, steam railway, botanical gardens etc all within short driving distance.
Would also strongly recommend Barbados for little ones. Hire a car and easy 45 minute drive to superb west coast area. We’ve hired the same villa for 3 years running 5 minutes walk from public beach access. Going again next year on 241 booked at 1am exactly UK time whilst we were in Barbados this year!
Plenty to do out there if you have a hire car for little ones, steam railway, botanical gardens etc all within short driving distance.
Aug 3, 2019, 6:38 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
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Posts: 3,369
I don’t think you can - ie the little one won’t get their own seat until they are two. Hence Club might give more space in total.
We flew economy domestic many times before my daughter was two, and typically got three seats near the back when checking in.
We used to get early afternoon flights, and without fail she’d sleep for the most part.
She’s four now, and about to go TATL for the first time. In club, so I’m setting her expectations too high at such a young age.
Aug 3, 2019, 8:08 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 774
Hi OP.. it's not clear on mobile where you are based but I will assume the UK. I recently did TFS slightly differently who was nearly two at the time. We used a redundant 2 for 1 and some avios for the flights in club and we ideally wanted the front row as it's a great playpen. We asked the lovely cabin crew to remove the middle tray table to make space for master lavajava to sit and play or use as a low table.
for accomdation we booked with tots to travel who are a specialist in the area of providing things you really need but don't necessarily want to take on holiday (Think toys, private splash pools, excellent baby sitting) You don't even need a car seat unless you plan to car hire. I think we paid 2k for a week all inclusive and got a great two story villa.
for 4-5k I would be expecting Scott Dunn level of service/accomadation along with the flights done cheaply using avios.
We also done Rhodes, California, Malaga, Morrocco, Germany and Venice. All BA, some holidays directly with them but mostly bespoke. Feel free to PM me for any experience
for accomdation we booked with tots to travel who are a specialist in the area of providing things you really need but don't necessarily want to take on holiday (Think toys, private splash pools, excellent baby sitting) You don't even need a car seat unless you plan to car hire. I think we paid 2k for a week all inclusive and got a great two story villa.
for 4-5k I would be expecting Scott Dunn level of service/accomadation along with the flights done cheaply using avios.
We also done Rhodes, California, Malaga, Morrocco, Germany and Venice. All BA, some holidays directly with them but mostly bespoke. Feel free to PM me for any experience
Aug 3, 2019, 9:23 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,540
We went to a Barbados when our son was 16 months old. F out and J back! He was perfect both ways on the flights. Only went F because of reward availability and in fact would strongly recommend the 2 middle seats in J for couple + little one.
Would also strongly recommend Barbados for little ones. Hire a car and easy 45 minute drive to superb west coast area. We’ve hired the same villa for 3 years running 5 minutes walk from public beach access. Going again next year on 241 booked at 1am exactly UK time whilst we were in Barbados this year!
Plenty to do out there if you have a hire car for little ones, steam railway, botanical gardens etc all within short driving distance.
Would also strongly recommend Barbados for little ones. Hire a car and easy 45 minute drive to superb west coast area. We’ve hired the same villa for 3 years running 5 minutes walk from public beach access. Going again next year on 241 booked at 1am exactly UK time whilst we were in Barbados this year!
Plenty to do out there if you have a hire car for little ones, steam railway, botanical gardens etc all within short driving distance.
)That was back in the days of us flying Y in long haul but we had bulkhead bassinet seats so wasn't too uncomfortable.
IIRC, we stayed at Turtle Beach down on the southern end, lovely hotel, staff made a huge fuss of RC Jr, plus we got the benefit of the England cricket team staying with us.
With the second daughter, it was 3 months and St Lucia, also quite fun but a long trek from the airport, and recall that fresh milk wasn't all that easy to track down (for the older one who had moved on to bottles by that point).
Aug 3, 2019, 9:25 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 360
May I suggest Orlando, not for the theme parks but at that time of year you will get a great villa with pool and jacuzzi very cheaply, there is lots to do without going anywhere near a theme park and there are also lots of child friendly restaurants. We have been several times at that time of year and the weather is usually good, think late seventies / early eighties except for very early in the morning and late evening.